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[jim mk2]

Good one. By quoting something Churchill said nearly 100 years ago ( as a Liberal) you make my argument for me . For some, voting Labour is akin to passing a family heirloom through the generations, still fighting the old class wars, because their Dads and Grandads did.

Same applies in Conservative areas.

[Audax]

RIP Abe Vigoda, appeared in the Godfather and Barney Miller show.

http://www.voanews.com/content/actor-abe-vigoda-dies/3164333.html

[Jimmy612]

Look at that paltry sum Google paid for back taxes the other day. When in reality it should be way more.

This shouldn't be a revenge issue. Google's situation was not illegal, it was simply deemed morally and politically wrong and it was probably good PR by google and the govt to make some sort of gesture and settle on an arbitrary figure to square the books. This horse trading will occur in many less high profile cases without attracting the same publicity. The only relevant issue is what they will pay in future.

[K-Hod]

This shouldn't be a revenge issue. Google's situation was not illegal, it was simply deemed morally and politically wrong and it was probably good PR by google and the govt to make some sort of gesture and settle on an arbitrary figure to square the books. This horse trading will occur in many less high profile cases without attracting the same publicity. The only relevant issue is what they will pay in future.

Of course, it was more of an issue across the board that I was highlighting.

[onlyonetugay]

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/29/migrants-wages-uk-immigration_n_5409319.html

The biggest problem with wages is the economic stagnation we currently have. You can't just cut your way to growth.

We've had consistent growth since 2013 and record numbers in work.

The labour market is oversupplied with low skilled and unskilled workers ( large numbers from the EU and further afield) and just like the oil price if you have an over supply , you have lower prices/wages. The government can help by intervening , just like it has done by introducing the new living wage , a welcome 7.5% increase for some of the lowest paid. However I fear that will just attract more unskilled workers from the EU adding to the competition for those jobs, and thereby in the long run, depressing wages to the statutory minimum.

[onlyonetugay]

We've had consistent growth since 2013 and record numbers in work.

Discuss ............................

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3417686/Whistleblower-sues-union-Unite-zero-hours-contract.html

Just saying like................. before someone mentions " yes but all those new jobs are on zero hours contracts " , now we know who the culprits are.

Len McCluskey joins Dianne Abbott, Harriet Harman, Emily Thornberry ( aka Lady Nugee ) et al , of the "do as I say, not as I do " party that purports to represent the working man and woman !

[K-Hod]

There's hypocrisy all over the place in politics. Those comments are embarrassing as well (not that I should expect a lot from the Daily Mail), 'Lefties' 'left-wing luvvies'. Bla bla, yawn.

Northern Powerhouse?-http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/great-train-delay-how-rail-10786935

Cameron complains about cuts in his constituency- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-clashes-with-conservative-controlled-oxfordshire-council-over-cuts-to-frontline-a6729616.html. This was my favourite.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-mp-who-claimed-moat-cleaning-on-his-expenses-will-return-to-parliament-through-lords-10474701.html- Moat cleaning on expenses? No worries, be a life peer.....

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

We've had consistent growth since 2013 and record numbers in work.

Discuss ............................

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3417686/Whistleblower-sues-union-Unite-zero-hours-contract.html

Just saying like................. before someone mentions " yes but all those new jobs are on zero hours contracts " , now we know who the culprits are.

Len McCluskey joins Dianne Abbott, Harriet Harman, Emily Thornberry ( aka Lady Nugee ) et al , of the "do as I say, not as I do " party that purports to represent the working man and woman !

"Unite, headed by Len McCluskey, has campaigned against zero-hours contracts but is accused of using them"

Jesus you couldn't make it up.

[onlyonetugay]

There's hypocrisy all over the place in politics. Those comments are embarrassing as well (not that I should expect a lot from the Daily Mail), 'Lefties' 'left-wing luvvies'. Bla bla, yawn.

Northern Powerhouse?-http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/great-train-delay-how-rail-10786935

Cameron complains about cuts in his constituency- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-clashes-with-conservative-controlled-oxfordshire-council-over-cuts-to-frontline-a6729616.html. This was my favourite.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-mp-who-claimed-moat-cleaning-on-his-expenses-will-return-to-parliament-through-lords-10474701.html- Moat cleaning on expenses? No worries, be a life peer.....

I could have posted a link from the Mirror and the Evening Standard, but the Mail just covered it more comprehensively ......and let's face it this is more than hypocrisy, this is worker exploitation by a Trade Union, which goes to the absolute core of left wing principles!

[K-Hod]

I could have posted a link from the Mirror and the Evening Standard, but the Mail just covered it more comprehensively ......and let's face it this is more than hypocrisy, this is worker exploitation by a Trade Union, which goes to the absolute core of left wing principles!

The article was fine, just the comments were embarrassing but they often are on news articles! I understand all that, if he is found guilty, that will be an egg on face moment!

[Baz]

We've had consistent growth since 2013 and record numbers in work.

Discuss ............................

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3417686/Whistleblower-sues-union-Unite-zero-hours-contract.html

Just saying like................. before someone mentions " yes but all those new jobs are on zero hours contracts " , now we know who the culprits are.

Len McCluskey joins Dianne Abbott, Harriet Harman, Emily Thornberry ( aka Lady Nugee ) et al , of the "do as I say, not as I do " party that purports to represent the working man and woman !

If We've had consistent growth since 2013, why do the OBR keep downgrading growth forecasts and why is George Osborne nowhere near his budget deficit reduction target?

As for the labour market being over-supplied with low or semi skilled workers, Id say theres an element of this due to the lack of higher rated jobs in the economy. In my experience very few companies these days offer younger people lasting careers. And certain government policies are very bad for employees- as an example- almost all companies these days will offer employees only the minimum pensions decreed by the government, even if they used to offer a much better package to new employees.

As for Len McClusky as you say, if its true, then he's a hypocrite. But its hardly unusual for politicians to be hypocrites.

[onlyonetugay]

If We've had consistent growth since 2013, why do the OBR keep downgrading growth forecasts and why is George Osborne nowhere near his budget deficit reduction target?

As for the labour market being over-supplied with low or semi skilled workers, Id say theres an element of this due to the lack of higher rated jobs in the economy. In my experience very few companies these days offer younger people lasting careers. And certain government policies are very bad for employees- as an example- almost all companies these days will offer employees only the minimum pensions decreed by the government, even if they used to offer a much better package to new employees.

As for Len McClusky as you say, if its true, then he's a hypocrite. But its hardly unusual for politicians to be hypocrites.

Growth since 2013 has been 2% plus or minus a decimal digit here and there, which compares very favourably to the rest of the G7 nations. I accept George Osborne hasn't achieved his budget deficit target , but it's a difficult balancing act. For example if he sensibly wants to save money by making the NHS a national service rather than an international one, restrict child benefit to say 3 children , reduce the benefit cap so that people who aren't working don't get more money and live in better houses than those who do work, his opponents on the left,both in politics and the media, have a fit. David Cameron only had to use the word " bunch" yesterday and all the usual suspects were out in mock indignation.

I agree that taking more tax from big business helps and hopefully HMRC are getting their act together on that . With regard to pensions , most companies didn't offer pensions to their workers, so auto-enrolment is progress, albeit small. I'd love to have decent pension too, like a final/average salary pension they have in the public sector , but my company stopped mine 15 years ago because they couldn't afford it. I now have a personal pension which is nowhere near the value. It irks me slightly that I'm paying taxes to fund better pensions than the one I have myself.

As I said in an earlier post Len McClusky is more than a hypocrite . He's the leader of one of the biggest Trade Unions in the country , constantly berating employers for the way they treat their workers and then treats his own employees in a most disgraceful manner. If I was a trade unionist or a supporter of the left I'd be seriously considering who has got my best interests at heart

[Jimmy612]

This was my favourite.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-mp-who-claimed-moat-cleaning-on-his-expenses-will-return-to-parliament-through-lords-10474701.html- Moat cleaning on expenses? No worries, be a life peer.....

Yep thats a good one K-Hod. Greedy git! Now the dust has settled they'll all be back to sticking their snouts in the trough though.

My personal favourite expense scandal was the nation having to pay the bill for Jaqui Smith's dodgy flat arrangement and worse still her bloody porn movies! The thought of having to pick up the tab for her and her husband to sit on the settee watching blueys with her strummin away and him knocking one out at our expense will haunt me for life.

Incidentally Smith has of course been rewarded with a top job despite the governors at the NHS foundation trust being assured that she would receive no salary and then discovering the truth that she's actually receiving 50k pa for just two days work per week!

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/fury-over-50000-salary-ex-10696367.

[K-Hod]

Yep thats a good one K-Hod. Greedy git! Now the dust has settled they'll all be back to sticking their snouts in the trough though.

My personal favourite expense scandal was the nation having to pay the bill for Jaqui Smith's dodgy flat arrangement and worse still her bloody porn movies! The thought of having to pick up the tab for her and her husband to sit on the settee watching blueys with her strummin away and him knocking one out at our expense will haunt me for life.

Incidentally Smith has of course been rewarded with a top job despite the governors at the NHS foundation trust being assured that she would receive no salary and then discovering the truth that she's actually receiving 50k pa for just two days work per week!

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/fury-over-50000-salary-ex-10696367.

There were some absolute pearlers in the expenses scandal! (Straddling all political parties) Hadn't heard the Jaqui Smith one before, but that all sounds a bit grim to me!

[Jimmy612]

You hadn't heard KHod? It was all over the press and media and they had an absolute field day with her because she was Home Secretary at the time. Unsurprisingly it led to her resignation.

[K-Hod]

You hadn't heard KHod? It was all over the press and media and they had an absolute field day with her because she was Home Secretary at the time. Unsurprisingly it led to her resignation.

To be honest, judging by the content of it, it's probably something I blocked out of my mind!

[Baz]

Growth since 2013 has been 2% plus or minus a decimal digit here and there, which compares very favourably to the rest of the G7 nations. I accept George Osborne hasn't achieved his budget deficit target , but it's a difficult balancing act. For example if he sensibly wants to save money by making the NHS a national service rather than an international one, restrict child benefit to say 3 children , reduce the benefit cap so that people who aren't working don't get more money and live in better houses than those who do work, his opponents on the left,both in politics and the media, have a fit. David Cameron only had to use the word " bunch" yesterday and all the usual suspects were out in mock indignation.

I agree that taking more tax from big business helps and hopefully HMRC are getting their act together on that . With regard to pensions , most companies didn't offer pensions to their workers, so auto-enrolment is progress, albeit small. I'd love to have decent pension too, like a final/average salary pension they have in the public sector , but my company stopped mine 15 years ago because they couldn't afford it. I now have a personal pension which is nowhere near the value. It irks me slightly that I'm paying taxes to fund better pensions than the one I have myself.

As I said in an earlier post Len McClusky is more than a hypocrite . He's the leader of one of the biggest Trade Unions in the country , constantly berating employers for the way they treat their workers and then treats his own employees in a most disgraceful manner. If I was a trade unionist or a supporter of the left I'd be seriously considering who has got my best interests at heart

Like I said earlier though, Osborne can only hit his targets by growing the economy. Cutting away at the bottom of the pyramid has the most damaging effect on people's lives, especially those who have no choice like those who cannot work. He's doing that whilst chipping away at corporation tax, under the economic theory that will drive business and they will spread the wealth, something that appears not to be happening, as companies are posting record profits, paying the minimum wage, or employing a lot of people on zero hour contracts, and seemingly get to have nice dinners with politicians to discuss if and how much tax they pay. Osborne said he would be out of budget deficit within 5 years, when they Tories and Lib-Dems took power, he's so far off that target it's incredible he's still in the job.

[jim mk2]

Osborne's borrowed more in 6 years than every Labour govt in history combined. Gideon claimed last week that Britain faces a "cocktail of threats" to the economy. If that is the case, then he is the barman.

[onlyonetugay]

Like I said earlier though, Osborne can only hit his targets by growing the economy. Cutting away at the bottom of the pyramid has the most damaging effect on people's lives, especially those who have no choice like those who cannot work. He's doing that whilst chipping away at corporation tax, under the economic theory that will drive business and they will spread the wealth, something that appears not to be happening, as companies are posting record profits, paying the minimum wage, or employing a lot of people on zero hour contracts, and seemingly get to have nice dinners with politicians to discuss if and how much tax they pay. Osborne said he would be out of budget deficit within 5 years, when they Tories and Lib-Dems took power, he's so far off that target it's incredible he's still in the job.

And like I said earlier , he is growing the economy. GDP expanded by 2.2 % in 2015, by 2.9% in 2014 and by 2.2% in 2013. Better than most G8 countries and at least as good as the US . What bit of that don't you understand ? With his new living wage he's attempting to make companies pay their workers , instead of us subsidising poor wages through our taxes. You must agree with that surely? You talk about " employing a lot of people on zero hours contracts " ......you mean like the Union baron Len McClusky? If I were a socialist I'd never mention zero hours contracts again.Nice dinners about tax arrangements ? I'm assuming you're referring to Google? A question for you. How much tax did Google pay under the last Labour government? George Osborne is still in a job because despite him missing his deficit reduction targets (he has reduced it from £153 million in 2010, the year Labour left office, to £88m in 2015 ), the country didn't trust Wallace and Grommit or the two Eds as they were also affectionately known. Remember Liam Byrne's note when Labour left office last time? " Dear Chief Secretary I'm afraid there is no money . Kind regards - and good luck Liam ". Typical socialists , fantastic at spending other peoples money.

Osborne's borrowed more in 6 years than every Labour govt in history combined. Gideon claimed last week that Britain faces a "cocktail of threats" to the economy. If that is the case, then he is the barmam

See above answer to Baz........ditto for you

[K-Hod]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/14238789.Shuiab_Khan__I_m_all_for_segregation___put_all_the_idiots_on_one_side_of_Blackburn___/- some good points in this article.

[onlyonetugay]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/labour-mp-jess-phillips-says-mass-cologne-sex-attacks-on-women-like-birmingham-every-weekend-a6840981.html

What are we to make of this left wing apologist ? Sinking to a new low in her attempt to defend intolerance and misogyny .

Is there anyone left, who truly thinks Labour is fit to govern an advanced liberal democracy ?

[K-Hod]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/labour-mp-jess-phillips-says-mass-cologne-sex-attacks-on-women-like-birmingham-every-weekend-a6840981.html

What are we to make of this left wing apologist ? Sinking to a new low in her attempt to defend intolerance and misogyny .

Is there anyone left, who truly thinks Labour is fit to govern an advanced liberal democracy ?

She's a bit melodramatic in the first instance, hence the headline- but she is spot on with this:

'Ms Phillips, who won her parliamentary seat in the 2015 May election, said that the treatment of women could differ between cultures and must be challenged.

"Now we have to attack what we perceive as patriarchal culture, coming into any culture that isn't patriarchal, and making sure we tell people not to be like that," she said.'

As it currently stands a lot needs to change in the Labour Party. At the minute, the Tories have free reign and are effectively running unopposed, which isn't good whichever way you want to look at it. There needs to be credible opposition regardless.

[onlyonetugay]

She's a bit melodramatic in the first instance, hence the headline- but she is spot on with this:

'Ms Phillips, who won her parliamentary seat in the 2015 May election, said that the treatment of women could differ between cultures and must be challenged.

"Now we have to attack what we perceive as patriarchal culture, coming into any culture that isn't patriarchal, and making sure we tell people not to be like that," she said.'

As it currently stands a lot needs to change in the Labour Party. At the minute, the Tories have free reign and are effectively running unopposed, which isn't good whichever way you want to look at it. There needs to be credible opposition regardless.

Well I guess that's one way to deal with the rapists in Cologne. by telling them ".....................not to be like that "

The likelihood of Labour attacking the " patriarchal culture " with the current bunch of far left zealots running the party is laughable. The fact that she calls it the "patriarchal culture" tells you all you need to know.

Oops I've used the word "bunch". I'll have Pixie Balls, Lady Nugee and Dianne the Revolutionary on my case !

[K-Hod]

Well I guess that's one way to deal with the rapists in Cologne. by telling them ".....................not to be like that "

The likelihood of Labour attacking the " patriarchal culture " with the current bunch of far left zealots running the party is laughable. The fact that she calls it the "patriarchal culture" tells you all you need to know.

Oops I've used the word "bunch". I'll have Pixie Balls, Lady Nugee and Dianne the Revolutionary on my case !

She would probably have to be at least a bit diplomatic to the press, so she's bound to have to dial it down! She'll leave punishments to Cologne Plod!

I expect Corbyn will be run out of town before too long in any case!

[jim mk2]

Of all of the ludicrous drivel Gideon spouted over the past 6 years, the idea that the British economy has outperformed the expectations of almost everyone is the most delusional. The idea that almost everyone is surprised by how well the economy has been doing is so out-of-touch it defies belief.

Think back to 2010 remember how Gideon promised that his ideological austerity agenda would have eliminated the budget deficit entirely by now. The budget deficit hasn't been eliminated, in fact it actually got bigger in 2015 than it was in 2014.

As is always the case the right wing gave him a free pass on this absolute nonsense.

When Osborne talks about a "cocktail of threats", he knows there's another economic crash coming, so he's clearly getting his excuses in early.